God tells us to preach. That is why we preach.
No, He told us to preach the gospel to
EVERY CREATURE. That is far different that just to preach. And you have failed to explain why TO everyone if the gospel isn't FOR everyone.
We are being obedient to the Lord in proclaiming the gospel. Also, God uses the preaching of the gospel to bring his elect into the church.
What verse teaches that?
Furthermore, God works all things after the counsel of his will (Ephesians 1:11). This means that he works even our preaching and teaching concerning the person of Jesus Christ and his sacrifice on the cross, in order to bring his people to faith.
This is no explanation of WHY the gospel is to be preached TO everyone if it isn't FOR everyone.
We do not know the means by which God chooses his people.
Not true. We know exactly the means by which God chooses His people for salvation.
1 Cor 1:21
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. This is clearly a choice of His; to save those who believe.
2 Thess 2:13
But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because
God has chosen you from the beginning
for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and
belief in the truth
From all eternity God has known whatsoever shall come to pass because he is redeemed it to be so.
I think this must be a typo, because the word "redeemed" doesn't fit. Did you mean to say that He determined everything that comes to pass? If so, do you mean that in a causative way? Because if you do, then you simply deny the meaning of omniscience. If God had to determine what comes to pass, that is merely a sovereign decision and has nothing to do with omniscience.
But this does not mean that we are robots.
OK, you claim it. Now, prove it. By your theology, God determines all that occurs. Same with a puppeteer. By pulling the strings, the puppets do exactly as the puppeteer "determines". So show me any meaningful difference between your theology and puppetry.
Christians, who were set free from the bonds of sin, have an influence with God in prayer (James 5:16). Though this is a paradox, we are able to influence God who from all eternity knows whatsoever shall come to pass.
There are NO paradoxes or tensions in Scripture. The Bible is completely in harmony. Those who claim paradoxes or tensions do not understand at least one side of the so-called paradox/tension. That's all.
I like to say that God ordains that we influence by her prayers. Therefore, we should pray that God will save people and that he would use us in the preaching and teaching of his word.
So, you view seems to be that God "determined" what you pray, because He already "determined" the outcome?
Furthermore, Isaiah 55:11 says that the word of God will not come back empty without accomplishing what God desires.
Which does not mean that everyone you pray for will be saved. It does mean that when the gospel goes out, no one has any excuse for rejecting it.
Romans 1:16 says that the gospel is the power of God to salvation.
Yet, Calvinistic theology SAYS that God elects to salvation, even from before the foundation of the world. It appears that your theology contains a paradox.
So, we need to preach the word of God and proclaim the gospel.
Sure, but you still haven't explained WHY to those who your theology claims doesn't need it because they weren't "chosen before the foundation". I would appreciate if you would at least try to.
Both of these truths about the power of the preaching means that there is something in the preaching of the word of God that has the ability to change people.
Actually, there is nothing in any of us that changes people. The gospel is what changes people, when they believe it.
Therefore, we are to preach and teach the gospel much as we can because it is the power of the word of God that has effect on people.
So, please explain WHY we are to preach TO every creature if the gospel isn't FOR every creature. You know, those so-called "non-elect" types.